The Echoes of Power

Deep within the unseen rift of Veloria, a force awoke.

A presence stirred in the endless void, its awareness flickering like an ember reigniting after millennia of slumber. It sensed a disturbance—a power long dormant had been claimed once more. Yet, it would not reveal itself—not yet.

Its patience had spanned eons, and it would wait a little longer. Instead, it reached into the darkness, shaping something new from the abyss. A monstrous entity, forged in shadow and fury, took form. Twisted and ravenous, it was given a singular purpose—seek out the new wielder of the Celestial Bond and test his strength.

On the lost planet, Orion and his team remained unaware that an unseen predator had already begun its hunt. And in the depths of Veloria, something watched, unseen and patient, its plan unfolding like the first whispers of an approaching storm.

The hum of the Astralis' engines reverberated through the metal hull as Orion Vance stood at the viewport, his heart pounding with anticipation. The swirling nebulae that had once filled him with awe and dread were now behind him. Ahead, Earth loomed in the distance, its blue and green hues a stark contrast to the uncharted wonders he had seen on the lost planet. Kael Veydris stood beside him, arms crossed. "You sure you're ready for this?" Orion exhaled slowly. "Not even a little."

Returning home after discovering his celestial bond was not just about coming back to familiar ground—it was about stepping into the unknown once again. He had left Earth as an explorer, a scientist. Now, he was something else.

Something the universe itself had chosen. The ship trembled slightly as it entered the upper atmosphere.

Through the viewport, Orion could see the sprawling megacities of Earth's largest metropolises, their lights twinkling like constellations upon the land. Despite the technological marvels of his home, he couldn't help but feel how small Earth now seemed compared to the cosmic forces he had witnessed.

Dax Hunter's voice crackled through the intercom. "Approaching the United Earth Alliance headquarters. They're rolling out the red carpet for you, Doc." Orion glanced at Kael. "Do they know about—" Kael smirked. "What? That you're glowing like a damn star god? No. And I'd keep it that way, at least for now." Orion sighed. "Yeah, that's what I thought." The docking procedures went smoothly, but the moment Orion stepped onto the landing platform, he felt the shift in the air. A sea of officials, military personnel, and scientists had gathered.

At the front stood Admiral Rhea Calloway, a woman of unwavering discipline, her piercing green eyes fixed on him. "Dr. Vance," she greeted, her voice crisp. "Welcome home." Orion nodded. "It's good to be back, Admiral." She studied him for a moment before turning to the others. "Let's debrief inside.

There's much to discuss." As they walked through the halls of the UEA headquarters, Orion felt the weight of the knowledge he carried pressing down on him. He had to tell them about the lost planet, about Veloria, about the celestial energy that now coursed through him. But a voice in the back of his mind whispered caution.

The power he had awakened was not just his own. It had existed before him, and it had enemies. If he revealed too much too soon, he could endanger not just himself, but all of Earth. As the doors to the debriefing room slid open, he took a deep breath.

The home he had returned to was not the same as the one he had left. And neither was he. Beyond the shadows, unseen eyes watched his arrival, and somewhere in the void, the being that had stirred in Veloria whispered its first command to its newest creation: Find him.